''Plaque Attack'' is a 1983

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

for the

Atari 2600 The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...

that was made by

Activision Activision Publishing, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Santa Monica, California. It serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios. Activision is one o ...

. The player must shoot food to protect teeth inside a person's mouth.

Steve Cartwright Steve Cartwright is an American video game designer. He is best known as one of the original Activision game designers, credited with such games as ''Barnstorming'', ''Megamania'', ''Seaquest'' and ''Hacker''. Activision In 1982, Cartwright joi ...

, who designed the game, said that game was meant to help people develop good dental habits.

Gameplay

The player controls a tube of

toothpaste Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, a ...

, defending teeth against various types of food, such as hamburgers and

french fries French fries (North American English), chips (British English), finger chips ( Indian English), french-fried potatoes, or simply fries, are '' batonnet'' or ''allumette''-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin from Belgium and France. Th ...

. The objective is to fire toothpaste at

food Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is inge ...

intent on destroying the teeth. If the food touches a tooth, it begins breaking down the tooth. If the player is fast enough to shoot the piece of food as soon as it starts breaking down the tooth the player will be able to save the tooth. If not, the tooth will decay and disappears from the screen. The food comes in waves, and the movements become more complicated. Destroying the food scores points, as does the number of teeth and the amount of toothpaste left at the end of each wave. After a certain number of points is scored, users gain bonus teeth. Bonus teeth are applied at the end of each wave. If all eight teeth are still present, the additional teeth will be placed on the sides of the mouth. Otherwise the teeth will replace any teeth lost. Play continues until all the teeth are gone, at which point the game is over.

Activision patch

Players who scored more than 35,000 points could send a screenshot of their accomplishment to Activision to receive a "No Plaque Pack" patch and congratulatory letter.

Reception

''Videogaming Illustrated'' described the game as "cute and busy, but nothing more" and gave it B-B+ for gameplay. ''Video Games'' magazine described it, in their review, as "another slide and shoot".

References

External links

*{{IAg, atari_2600_plaque_attack_1983_activision_steve_cartwright_ax-027 1983 video games Atari 2600 games Atari 2600-only games Medical video games North America-exclusive video games Shoot 'em ups Video games about food and drink Video games developed in the United States Video games designed by Steve Cartwright

Gameplay

Activision patch

Reception

See also

References

External links